[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Northport 5-1-1973 by L.L. No. 1-1973 (Ch. 14 of the 1966 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Unsafe buildings — See Ch. 114.
Grading and filling — See Ch. 173.
Littering — See Ch. 252, Art. I.
[Amended 11-18-1975 by L.L. No. 16-1975]
This chapter shall be known as the "Unsightly Buildings and Lands Local Law of the Village of Northport." It is the intent of the Village of Northport to permit the Board of Trustees to take remedial action regarding unsightly and dangerous conditions of lands and the structures thereon. The Board of Trustees of the Village of Northport finds that the deterioration and unkept conditions of certain lands and structures within the Village of Northport become unsightly and a detriment to the adjoining buildings, properties and neighborhoods and constitute a nuisance. Such nuisances interfere with the promotion of good order, peace, health, safety and welfare of residents of the village and invites vandalism and necessitates additional police protection for the security of said property, property owners and other residents of the Village of Northport. Additionally, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Northport finds that the improper grading of property, change of terrain and drainage and careless maintenance, except under certain conditions, is detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of its residents, causes unsightly and dangerous conditions, is destructive of property and creates a nuisance.
Any notice hereunder shall be served by delivery of a copy to any person occupying the premises, or, in the event that the premises are unoccupied, by affixing a copy to the front door of the premises. In the event that the premises are vacant, notice shall be served by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the owner and address shown on the current assessment roll of the Village of Northport.
For the purpose of this chapter, the terms used herein are defined as follows:
LANDS
Any vacant or improved lot, piece or parcel of ground abutting upon any sidewalk, highway or public place or any private property within the Village of Northport.
OWNER
The person for which title for the particular premises is vested. The Village of Northport shall be permitted to rely upon the name of the person appearing on the latest assessment roll of the Village of Northport as evidence of ownership.
RESIDENT
Occupant, tenant, person in possession, corporation, owner or the agents, servants and employees of any of the foregoing.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for a resident of the Village of Northport or an owner of property located within the Village of Northport to create, cause, maintain or permit to continue the following conditions:
A. 
Buildings or structures owned by said resident where the exterior exposed surfaces of said buildings or structures are not inherently resistant to deterioration and/or where said exterior exposed surfaces have become unsightly due to deterioration and weathering of the covering or paint on said surfaces.
B. 
The accumulation of any filth, dirt, ashes, junk, garbage, wastewater, raw sewage, sewage, wastepaper, dust, rubbish, sticks, stones, wood, leaves, paper or paper boxes, iron, tin, nails, bottles or glass of any kind, old cars and parts thereof, discarded appliances, such as refrigerators and the like, upon lands owned by said resident.
[Amended 4-19-1977 by L.L. No. 8-1977]
C. 
Lands upon which grass, leaves, hedges, bushes and/or trees have become untrimmed and overgrown and unsightly when said grass, leaves, hedges, bushes and/or trees are exposed to public view.
[Amended 9-2-1975 by L.L. No. 11-1975]
D. 
Any hazardous condition of terrain, grading or drainage, as regulated by Chapter 173, Grading and Filling, or construction, in or upon property used, owned or occupied by said owner or resident, wherein said hazardous condition shall constitute a menace to the property, lines, mains, streets, sidewalks, equipment, structures or buildings owned by the village or by adjoining property owners.
[Added 11-18-1975 by L.L. No. 16-1975; amended 8-17-1999 by L.L. No. 12-1999]
E. 
No temporary storage facility, generally referred to as a "portable on-demand storage unit (P.O.D.)," shall be kept or maintained in a residentially zoned or residentially utilized lot or tract of land for more than 120 days without the prior written approval of the Building Inspector or Code Compliance Officer, and in no event shall the Building Inspector or Code Compliance Officer permit the unit to be kept for more than 120 days on the subject property.
[Added 5-2-2023 by L.L. No. 5-2023]
F. 
A portable on-demand storage unit (P.O.D.) or other temporary storage facility kept or maintained in a residentially zoned or residentially utilized lot or tract of land improved by a building structure shall be located behind the front line of the main building structure, projected to the side lines of the lot. The Building Inspector or Code Compliance Officer, at his/her discretion, may approve another location for placement of the unit on the property as long as no hazard or nuisance is created thereby. At no time shall the portable on-demand storage unit (P.O.D) or other temporary storage facility be located or maintained on any sidewalk, street, roadway or public right-of-way.
[Added 5-2-2023 by L.L. No. 5-2023]
[Amended 11-18-1975 by L.L. No. 16-1975]
Upon receipt of a complaint that a resident of the Village of Northport or an owner of property located within the Village of Northport has allegedly violated any of the provisions of this chapter, the Code Compliance Director shall promptly make an investigation of said complaint and file a written report of his investigation with the Board of Trustees. Simultaneously, the Code Compliance Director shall notify the resident of the Village of Northport or owner of property located within the Village of Northport accused of violating the provisions of this chapter pursuant to § 223-2 of this chapter. Said notice shall indicate the date of meeting during which the report of the Code Compliance Director will be reviewed and examined by the Board of Trustees and shall indicate that the resident will be given the opportunity to answer the allegation of said complaint.
If the Board of Trustees, after reviewing the report of the Code Compliance Director and hearing the resident or owner accused of violating the provisions of this chapter, shall find that a violation exists, it shall cause a notice to be served to said resident informing him that the violation must be corrected within five days, on failure of which the village will cause the condition to be corrected or removed and the cost thereof assessed against the property.
[Added 1-18-1977 by L.L. No. 2-1977]
In the event that the Village of Northport causes the condition to be corrected or removed, as provided in § 223-6 above, the Code Compliance Director shall submit a written report thereof to the Board of Trustees within 10 days of said correction or removal. Said report shall describe the actions taken and shall include a compilation of all costs and expenses incurred by the village. At the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees, the Board shall confirm said costs and expenses as an assessment against the real property involved, by duly adopted resolution. A copy of said resolution shall be mailed to the address of the resident involved, as said address appears upon the latest assessment roll of the Village of Northport. A lien of special assessment shall thereupon arise as provided for by the Village Law of the State of New York. Said assessment shall be collected in the manner provided for by the Village Law of the State of New York.
Nothing herein shall prevent the criminal prosecution of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. Upon conviction thereof the person or corporation violating the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not more than $250, a term of imprisonment not to exceed 15 days, or both such fine and imprisonment, for each offense.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).